Seattle city councilman arrested

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SEATTLE -- Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver was arrested and booked into jail early Wednesday morning for investigation of assault.

In an interview with KOMO News, his wife, Marlaina Kiner-McIver, said she regrets calling police this morning.

"My husband was verbally abusive and I called 911," she said. "And I regret everything I did."

Kiner-McIver said she wanted to set the record straight before too many stories started flying around about her husband.

"I was sleeping when he came in, and I think he had been drinking," she said. "He was telling me how inadequate I was as a wife."

She said McIver pushed her and she was scared he would become more physically abusive.

According to a police report, Kiner-McIver told officers that her husband grabbed her by the throat repeatedly during a profanity-filled tirade.

The report indicates that Kiner-McIver told a 911 operator that they had both been drinking. Officers said McIver admitted that he was probably drunk, but he denied any physically abusive contact with his wife.

Jail records indicate that McIver, 66, was booked into the King County Jail about 2:30 a.m. for investigation of assault.

Kiner-McIver said she and her husband have been married for 33 years, and nothing like this has happened before.

She said she's been crying all night and that her husband may go before a judge on Thursday.

Wednesday afternoon, McIver released a statement saying he is cooperating fully with the investigation.

"Domestic violence is a very serious issue," the statement said. "At this time I will not comment on the charges being brought against me except to say I will be pleading not guilty at my arraignment."

McIver has been on the city council for 10 years and serves as the chair of the council's finance and budget committee.